Felicia F. Clark is a screenwriter and producer who crafts stories with warmth, humor and real-life experiences. With a background in news production, she values teamwork and determination in the film industry. She draws inspiration from daily life, blending originality with audience interests. To those looking to break into writing and producing, she emphasizes the importance of learning, having passion, and seizing opportunities.
What inspired your latest screenplay, and how does it reflect your personal experiences or worldview?
I was taking a class at The Second City, and the assignment was to write a parody. With Saturday Night Live in mind, I wrote a parody of Fruit of the Loom and Herbal Essence commercials, mashed into one. A lot of my personal experiences are hilarious. For some reason, a lot of weird things happen to me. So I find myself laughing a lot at things. Or maybe it’s how I see it. It’s probably horrific to others.
How do you approach character development to create authentic and layered narratives?
They are based upon people I know or characters I have seen on television. So, I kind of have their personalities already mapped out. Then I create their history, their “why.” What makes them tick? What makes them who they are? Without it, I wouldn’t know how to move them.
What challenges have you encountered as a woman in the film industry, and how have you navigated them?
We have to fight harder for recognition, respect, and for validity. I can’t come to play. It’s like I have to be on my P’s and Q’s, and show that I can be aggressive, respectfully, when it comes to work.
Can you share a project that had a major impact on your career and the lessons you took from it?
I’ve written a few books, but it was when I wrote my first screenplay that I instantly knew it’s what I wanted to do. And in doing so, it led to me becoming a news producer. From there, I learned how to work in a newsroom, on a TV set, audience engagement, and meeting deadlines.
How do you balance your creative vision with industry demands and audience expectations?
Industry demands, and what the audience expects always take precedence. You have to adapt. But the beauty of being creative is that you can add your voice, what sets you apart, to the projects.
What role does collaboration play in your creative process, and how do you select your collaborators?
I haven’t had the opportunity to actually select collaborators. But there are a couple of producers, directors, editors, reporters who collaborate on a news show. Particularly, the producers decide what stories make the cut and what gets chopped. You want it all to fit, to flow within a strict start and end time. And it takes the team, in its entirety, to create a successful show. So, collaboration is kind of a big deal.
How do you keep up with industry trends while preserving your unique voice as a storyteller?
By staying in the know. I study the trends, read the latest news, fashion, basically whatever I can get my hands on. I’m an avid reader, so it’s not hard. I study the language and how it’s all being written. And then I use my voice with my newfound knowledge and skills.
Can you recall a time when a project didn’t go as planned, and how you adapted to the situation?
I had to collaborate on a screenplay that was based on a true story set in the 1990s in Brooklyn. The story was a bit gritty. And my writing partner didn’t know anything about gritty. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know much either, but somehow I knew much more than him. So, there was a bit of an issue with how the characters should sound. We had a few meetings. Discussed the culture. Did a lot of research. I listened to him and he listened to me. We came up with a game plan and a schedule. Set up a plan and dug in.
What advice would you offer aspiring screenwriters and producers looking to break into the industry?
Learn as much as possible. And always be prepared to always learn something new. In school or on the job, ask lots of questions. Read about it. In both positions, learning how to write is important, especially writing how you talk. If you don’t know already, learn how to research. And how to keep your audience engaged.
How do you see the future of storytelling evolving, and what excites you most about these changes?
I see more things happening, and of course, more stories yet to be told. And with the advances in technology, there’ll be many new platforms. Allowing storytellers a broader reach. What makes me excited about it all is that I’m always interested in a good story and telling a good story. The accessibility on both ends is a very good thing.
Be’n Original
